Full color cholesteric liquid crystal display

ABSTRACT

A cholesteric display may be formed, in some embodiments, using a single display element to produce multi-colors for display. A cholesteric material may be sandwiched between a pair of substrates, each associated with a first pair of opposed electrodes that are arranged generally transversely to the optical axis of incident light. The first pair of electrodes produce one of two liquid crystal states and result in the reflection of light of a particular wavelength. Light of other wavelengths may be reflected when a second pair (or set) of opposed electrodes, arranged generally transversely to the first pair of electrodes, are biased appropriately. A color display may be generated from a single display element by modulating the pitch length of the cholesteric material.

BACKGROUND

[0001] This invention relates generally to liquid crystal displays and particularly to cholesteric displays.

[0002] Commonly, liquid crystal material may be modulated to produce a display. Conventional liquid crystal displays commonly use twisted nematic (tn) liquid crystal materials having a pair of states that may differentially pass or reflect incident light. While twisted nematic displays may be reflective or transmissive, cholesteric displays are usually reflective but they may also be transmissive.

[0003] In cholesteric displays, the cholesteric material has very high optical activity. Such liquid crystal material switches between a reflective texture called the planar cholesteric texture and the transparent configuration with the focal conic texture. The cholesteric molecules assume a helical configuration with the helical axis perpendicular to the surface of the substrates.

[0004] The cholesteric liquid crystal material molecules in response to an electric field align as planar texture with the optical axis, reflecting light of a particular wavelength. Generally, the maximum reflection in the planar cholesteric texture is at a wavelength directly proportional to the material's pitch distance.

[0005] Conventionally, an electric field is applied in the direction of the optical axis in order to change the phase and reflectivity of the cholesteric material. However, these changes are generally in the form of either reflecting light of a given wavelength or not reflecting light.

[0006] Thus, a given completed cholesteric liquid crystal cell may produce reflected light in a specific color, such as red, green or blue, but not any combination of them. Therefore, the conventional approach is to provide separate cholesteric display elements for each of the three primary colors (e.g., red, green and blue). These separate display elements may be stacked one on top of the other in order to generate the desired tri-color light output. Alternatively, the three elements may be placed side by side each displaying the same color. The three different colors may be achieved using color filter material.

[0007] The use of color filter material substantially reduces the display brightness and increases the cost of the overall display. Similarly, the use of three separate elements in a stack effectively triples the cost of the display. Stacked elements may even reduce the optical brightness of each display pixel.

[0008] Bistable reflective cholesteric displays are particularly advantageous for many portable applications. The bistable material is advantageous because it may be placed in one of two states that have different optical properties. Once placed in either state, the material stays in that state even when power is removed. Thus, a given displayed pixel may remain, without refresh, in a given state until it is desired to change the optical information that is displayed. Being reflective in nature, and hence avoid the need of backlight plus avoiding the need for refresh will substantially reduce power consumption.

[0009] Thus, there is a need for displays, and particularly for bistable cholesteric displays, that can be fabricated at lower costs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010]FIG. 1 is a greatly enlarged, schematic cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the present invention;

[0011]FIG. 2 is a schematic depiction of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

[0012]FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a bistable cholesteric display in an active matrix display arrangement, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; and

[0013]FIG. 4 is a bistable cholesteric display cell in a passive matrix display arrangement, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0014] Referring to FIG. 1, a cholesteric display may include a bistable cholesteric material 16 in one embodiment of the present invention. The material 16 is sandwiched between two substrates 12 and 24. The substrate 24 is advantageously substantially transparent and may conventionally be glass. The substrate 24 may or may not be transparent. The substrate 24 may be made of a variety of materials. The substrates 12 and 24, in one embodiment, may include transparent electrodes 14 and 22. The transparent electrodes 14 and 22, in one embodiment, may be made of indium tin oxide (ITO).

[0015] Sandwiched between the substrates 12 and 24 is a sideways electrode 18 and an opposed sideways electrode 26. Between the electrodes 18 and 26 and the substrate 24 is a material 20. In an active matrix embodiment, the material 20 may be a thin film transistor or other active element to drive the actual display. In a passive matrix embodiment, the material 20 may be a row or column contact or electrode.

[0016] Referring to FIG. 2, the electrodes 14 and 22 apply an electric field along the optical axis O of the display 10. The optical axis O is aligned with the direction of incident light “L”. The light L, directed toward the upper surface of the substrate 12, passes through the upper surface and the electrode 14 and is reflected (or not) by the cholesteric material 16, as indicated by the light beam R, to produce the perceived image. Since the light arrives at and is reflected from the top upper surface, the optical axis O is oriented generally transversely to the substrates 12 and 24.

[0017] In conventional fashion, the electric field developed by the electrodes 14 and 22 may cause the bistable cholesteric material 16 to transition between the reflective planar cholesteric texture and the transparent, focal conic texture. The procedures for applying potentials for causing these transitions to occur are well known in the art.

[0018] In general, an electric field may be applied by an alternating current voltage source 30 that is electrically coupled to the electrodes 14 and 22. When the cholesteric material 16 is in its transparent texture, in some embodiments, the lower substrate 24 becomes visible. When the material 16 is in its planar cholesteric texture, light of a given wavelength is reflected. That given wavelength is generally determined by the helical pitch of the material 16. In conventional cholesteric displays, this pitch is defined and is fixed. Thus, in conventional cholesteric displays each display element either provides one reflected color or is transparent, displaying the color of the substrate 22.

[0019] In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the electrodes 18 and 26 apply an electric field transversely to the optical axis O. In one embodiment, this transverse electric field may be applied from flat planar electrodes 18 arranged generally transversely to the electrodes 14 and 22.

[0020] The electrodes 18 and 26 may be coupled to their own separate potential 32. The electrodes 18 and 26 need not, but may be transparent.

[0021] The electrodes 18 and 26 allow the pitch set by the electrodes 14 and 22 to be varied. In one embodiment of the present invention, the electrodes 18 and 26 enable the fixed pitch to be varied between three different pitches. Each of the different pitches, associated with a given potential on the electrodes 18 and 26, may produce one of three different light colors. In one embodiment, for example, red, green and blue light may be selectively produced from a single display element 10.

[0022] In some embodiments, another set of electrodes 18 and 26 may be provided transversely to the direction of the electrodes 18 and 26 so as to be aligned generally parallel to the page depicting FIG. 2. In other embodiments, only the single set of opposed electrodes 18 and 26 may be utilized. Similarly, in still other embodiments, curved surface electrodes, such as dish-shaped electrodes having axes generally transverse to the optical axis O can be used. The sides of the curved surface of the dish-shaped electrode provides the sideways electric field (from 360°) transverse to the electric field aligned with the optical axis O.

[0023] Liquid crystal have dipoles that align in an applied electric field. This property allows an electric field transverse to the optical axis to modify the pitch length of the material.

[0024] Through the use of electrodes 18 and 26, a multi-colored display pixel may be produced with only a single cholesteric display element. As a result, substantial cost savings may be achieved by avoiding the need for three different display elements that are either laterally displaced from one another or stacked one atop the other. Moreover, when three display elements are utilized in a laterally displaced arrangement, color filter arrays are generally needed and color filter arrays significantly increase the cost of the display.

[0025] In one embodiment of the present invention, the material 16, when exposed to the electric field aligned with the optical axis O, reflects light in a central or intermediate wavelength of approximately 560 nanometers. Then the pitch may be changed using the electric field applied through electrodes 18 and 26 to either increase the reflected wavelength, for example to 670 nanometers, or to decrease the reflected wavelength, for example to 450 nanometers. This basically changed the reflected colors of the cell or element.

[0026] Other variations may be utilized, as well. In some embodiments it may be efficient to provide the color red or the color blue when the electrodes 18 and 26 are not operating and then to tune the pitch to adjust the reflected wavelength upwardly or downwardly using the electrodes 18 and 26. A transmissive mode may also be used. In some embodiments, pitch changes may be used to selectively reflect and/or transmit different wavelengths of the spectrum, including the infrared range.

[0027] Referring to FIG. 3, in one embodiment of the present invention, an active matrix display may be implemented. In such case, the material 20 may constitute a thin film transistor or other active element. In one embodiment, the gate 22′ of the thin film transistor may be coupled to a line 36, that is in turn coupled to the electrode 22. At the same time, the source of the transistor 20 is coupled via line 38 to the electrode 14. The drain 22″ may be coupled via a line 40 to an appropriate ground connection in one embodiment of the present invention. An external storage capacitor 34 may be provided in some embodiments.

[0028] Similarly, in a passive matrix display embodiment, the electrode 14 may be coupled to a column potential and the electrode 22 may be coupled to a row potential. In such case, a thin film transistor may not be utilized and the material 20 may provide electrical connections for row and column potentials.

[0029] While the present invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, those skilled in the art will appreciate numerous modifications and variations therefrom. It is intended that the appended claims cover all such modifications and variations as fall within the true spirit and scope of this present invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A cholesteric display comprising: a pair of opposed substrates; a cholesteric material between said substrates; a first pair of electrodes aligned generally parallel to said substrates; and a second pair of electrodes arranged generally transversely to said substrates.
 2. The display of claim 1 wherein said cholesteric material is a bistable cholesteric material.
 3. The display of claim 1 wherein said second pair of electrodes enable the display to produce light of variable wavelengths.
 4. The display of claim 1 wherein said cholesteric material selectively produces light of one of a plurality of possible wavelengths.
 5. The display of claim 1 wherein said first pair of electrodes are formed on said pair of opposed substrates.
 6. The display of claim 5 wherein said first pair of electrodes are formed of transparent conducting material.
 7. The display of claim 1 wherein said second pair of electrodes are arranged to change the pitch of said cholesteric material.
 8. The display of claim 1 wherein said display is a reflective display.
 9. The display of claim 1 wherein when said first pair of electrodes are operational, said display produces a first wavelength of light and when said second pair of electrodes is operational, said display produces two additional wavelengths of light, including a wavelength longer than said first wavelength and a wavelength shorter than said first wavelength.
 10. The display of claim 1 wherein said display does not include a color filter.
 11. A method comprising: exposing a cholesteric material to light along an optical axis; generating an electric field generally parallel to said optical axis; and generating an electric field generally transverse to said optical axis.
 12. The method of claim 11 including causing said cholesteric material to reflect light of more than one wavelength.
 13. The method of claim 12 including causing said cholesteric material to selectively produce light of one of three distinct wavelengths.
 14. The method of claim 11 including producing light of different wavelengths using said second electric field without the use of a color filter array.
 15. The method of claim 11 including exposing a cholesteric material to said first and second electric fields.
 16. The method of claim 11 including changing the pitch of said material using said second electric field.
 17. The method of claim 11 including actively driving said cholesteric material.
 18. The method of claim 11 including passively operating said cholesteric material.
 19. The method of claim 11 including causing said material to selectively produce light in the red, green and blue wavelengths.
 20. The method of claim 11 including exposing a cholesteric material to a first electric field to switch the cholesteric material between transparent and reflective textures and exposing said cholesteric material to a second electric field transverse to said first electric field to change the pitch of said cholesteric material.
 21. A cholesteric element comprising: a cholesteric material; a pair of substrates surrounding said cholesteric material; and a device to cause said cholesteric material to selectively generate light in different wavelengths.
 22. The element of claim 21 wherein said device includes a first pair of electrodes aligned generally parallel to said substrates and a second pair of electrodes arranged generally transversely to said substrates.
 23. The element of claim 21 wherein said second pair of electrodes changes the pitch of said cholesteric material to selectively alter wavelengths of the spectrum.
 24. The element of claim 21 wherein said cholesteric material is a bistable cholesteric material.
 25. The element of claim 21 wherein said element is a display.
 26. The element of claim 25 wherein said display is an active matrix display.
 27. The element of claim 25 wherein said element is a passive matrix display. 